‘It’s crazy’: Winnipeggers fed up with back lane ruts

Winnipeg homeowners are getting frustrated by treacherous ice ruts in back lanes. CTV’s Danton Unger has the latest.

Winnipeg residents are getting frustrated by treacherous ice ruts in back lanes, and are doing what they can to take a chip out of the problem.

“It’s crazy. That’s all I can say. It’s crazy. It’s just wrong,” said Glenda Willman, as she chipped away at thick ice with her shovel and heaved it to the side of her back lane.

Willman, along with her neighbours, is fed up with the ice ruts in her back lane. In the more than 30 years she’s lived on Marjorie Street in St. James, this year’s ruts are some of the worst.

“These ruts are really bad. Like, really bad. But, our community here, as you can see, we’re all out helping each other. That’s what you do.”

On Monday, Willman and three of her neighbours – all armed with shovels and ice picks – were chipping away at the ruts. It’s become somewhat of an annual tradition for them, as they say they can’t wait around for the city to get the job done.

‘My neighbour and I – both single women in our 60s – have been working on this for days,” said Donna Middleton, who lives next door.

She said she’s already had some close calls thanks to the deep ruts.

“I got stuck at 9 o’clock at night and I had to get neighbours to come push me out.”

She is planning to launch a complaint with 311, and that could actually help get the job done sooner.

A city spokesperson told CTV News it schedules back lane clearing based on service requests, along with inspections.

“We plow back lanes to reduce deep ruts when weather and conditions require,” they said in an emailed statement, adding since Feb. 26, the city has fielded 340 requests for back lane clearing.

Until that happens on Marjorie Street, Willman and her neighbours say they will just keep on chipping away.

“This is what Winnipeggers do,” she said.

Requests for clearing can be made on the city’s website or by calling 311.